Panthers' Brandon LaFell targeting No. 2 job

[TruCatzFan]

Another great article

“My whole mind-set is to do everything I can so that they don’t have to make a decision for me to split time with anybody else,’’ said LaFell, who backed up Naanee at times last year and shared time with him at other times. “I want the No. 2 spot to be mine, so I’m doing everything I can to solidify that.’’

So what does LaFell have to do to solidify that spot?

“Keep making plays,’’ said LaFell, who finished last season with 36 catches for 613 yards and three touchdowns. “Know my assignment. Go up and get the ball. Catch every ball. Make every block and do everything I can.’’

So far, it sounds like the coaching staff is seeing all those things -- and more -- from LaFell.

“He looks much more comfortable,’’ coach Ron Rivera said. “In fact, you see him helping other guys. You see him working with the younger guys. You see him working very well with Steve and (tight end) Greg Olsen. I think his rapport with (quarterback) Cam (Newton) is developing very quickly. That’s what we need -- that other guy to step up and be that other guy that’s going to stress the defenses that we face. As he develops and becomes a better and better football player, we may see even more things from Steve.’’

http://espn.go.com/blog/nfcsouth

[bLACKpANTHER]

:wub:

i love that we might have finally found that complementary #2 WR that we have been looking for the past 4-5 years.. and having Olsen in there too doesnt hurt..

[CarolinaNCSU]

It's so weird to see LaFell "quotes" in English after what you see from his Twitter

[God]

he dat deal

[Match.com]

iM HOPING TO WIN BIG

[PhillyB]

excellent. we have never seen steve smith's abilities with both a true number two WR playing across from him AND a pro bowl caliber tight end working the seams and demanding attention from the safeties. steve smith could very well have a career year.

[Guest Bwood]

The future is bright with LaFell, Gettis and Olsen. If Adams could become a solid slot receiver we could be set for a decade.

[Carolina_Champ]

We've been looking for a solid #2 for so long. Glad to see LaFell is working out. I'm interested in seeing how Gettis, Adams, and Pilares can contribute. With more weapons, I don't see Smith having a career year but I could definitely see his YAC going up.

[csx]

I don't believe Olsen has ever come close to Pro Bowl caliber. I sure hope he gets to that level.

[PhillyB]

We've been looking for a solid #2 for so long. Glad to see LaFell is working out. I'm interested in seeing how Gettis, Adams, and Pilares can contribute. With more weapons, I don't see Smith having a career year but I could definitely see his YAC going up.

smith has always worked against double coverage and sometimes even triple because we never had TE threats (mangum was a brief exception) and after moose left there was simply nobody that warranted anything more than man coverage.

now you can't dedicate two guys to smitty because lafell can beat his man, and our third WR is likely to be better than most teams' nicklebacks, and we have one, possibly two outstanding TEs that can work the seam and demand attention from the safties that would otherwise provide rolling coverage to smitty's side of the field. that's not even factoring in our world-class running game.

we are gonna make some safeties look terrible this year.

[bigdog10]

Good to see Lafell stepping up

[rayzor]

who's targeting the #1 job?

i'm hoping for someone to be good enough to beat smitty out of a job before he hangs up his shoes.

nothing against smith, but could you imagine how set we'd be if smith were our 2nd best WR and he 's still playing as good as he is?

[CatMan72]

who's targeting the #1 job?

i'm hoping for someone to be good enough to beat smitty out of a job before he hangs up his shoes.

nothing against smith, but could you imagine how set we'd be if smith were our 2nd best WR and he 's still playing as good as he is?

You are right and I agree, but I understand why LaFell might not say publicly that he was targeting the # 1 job...

[Swaggasaurus]

Oh huddle how far you have come since the days of "Stonehands LaFAIL"